They may not have the best pedigree but four rescued mutts will rub noses with the poshest pooches in Britain at this year's Crufts.

The super-fit four may not be taking to the canine catwalk but they will show off their agility skills at the event as part of the Rescue Dog Agility Team.

For the fourth year running, the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) will be joining other animal charities, including the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs Home and the National Animal Welfare Trust, in a combined team to demonstrate that rescue dogs are fun to be with and fun to train.

The dogs going to Crufts from the NCDL base at Shoreham include Dudley, a six-year-old lhasa apso crossbreed.

Originally from an unwanted litter of puppies, Dudley had a hard start in life after being born with an overshot jaw.

He is now owned by NCDL Shoreham carer Kathryn Moulding and lives with seven other dogs. He is known as Cuddly Dudley.

Connor is another of the team. The 15-month-old crossbreed was rescued from a puppy farm in Wales when he was six weeks old.

He now lives with Amy Crickmore, 18, who takes him to agility classes every week.

The other two members of the team will be two-year-old Womble, a collie-cross, and seven-year-old Dean, a beagle.

Dean and Womble both belong to Elaine Potter, a receptionist at NCDL Shoreham.

Womble is deaf which means he has to rely on sign language for instructions.

Dean was only given six months to live when he was a puppy because of a severe heart murmur.

Elaine took him home rather than leave him in kennels and, six years later, he is still going strong, thanks to a major operation.

Ms Moulding said: "Being able to take our rescue dogs to Crufts is great.

"By working with the other charities, we are able to show everyone how wonderful, intelligent and capable rescue dogs really are.

"All of the dogs in the charity teams have had a bad start in life but they have now put all that behind them and are just having fun."

Jack Johnstone, the agility team co-ordinator, said: "It is through their handler's love, care and patience that these dogs are now happy and have a real passion for agility, which shows through in their performances.

"Rescue dogs have so much to give so if you are thinking of getting a dog, please do consider a rescue and offer them a new lease of life."

Crufts is being held at Birmingham's NEC from Thursday, March 6, to Sunday, March 9.

The rescue dogs will show off their skills in the special events ring on the Saturday at 3.25 pm and on the Sunday at 1.30pm.